Rugby League Legend Paul Sculthorpe MBE to be guest speaker at Varsity Match

Paul Sculthorpe, one of rugby league’s most celebrated players, is to be the guest speaker at this year’s Rugby League Varsity Match. The game between the Dark Blues of Oxford and the Light Blues of Cambridge is taking place on 8th March at the Honourable Artillery Company in central London.

Sculthorpe is one of Great Britain and England’s most capped players, is a regular pundit for the BBC, Commercial Manager for St Helens RFC and provides the benefit if his experience on the field in training and development camps, and off the field in corporate leadership seminars.

Known as Scully, he made 325 Super League appearances for Warrington Wolves (78) and St Helens (247) and is one of the few players to have scored 100 tries and 100 goals in Super League.

He has appeared in the Super League Dream Team three times and was named Man of Steel in 2001 and 2002, the first player to receive the back-to-back accolade. He became a World Club Champion in 2001 and 2007 with St Helens RFC and captained the side to Challenge Cup victory in 2004. A regular in Challenge Cup and Super League champion sides in the late 1990s and 2000s, Paul has winners’ medals from 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

A truly global rugby league star, Scully became the face of Gillette during 2003 – 2006. He regularly takes part in ‘ultra’ sporting events for various charities, including the Steve Prescott Foundation. He was awarded the honour of MBE the 2013 New Year's Honours List, for his services to Rugby League and to charity.

On making the announcement, Sculthorpe said “With the new look and feel of the event, plus its central London location, I think the Varsity Match has an important place in the rugby league calendar and I am delighted to be a part.

“I’m fortunate to be able to use my experience to give something back to the game. I regularly discuss leadership and development with businesses throughout the UK, and the Varsity Match, with the teams from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, is a great way for captains of industry and City boys to experience rugby league.

As well as speaking during the event, Scully has offered a number of training days and corporate leadership seminars to the Varsity Match which will be auctioned during the hospitality lunch, tickets for which are available at www.rlvarsity.com.

-ENDS-

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Eleanor Roosevelt